The photographs seen here (courtesy of George W. Hamlin) are from the Auto-Train facility in Sandford, Florida - November 15th, 1975.
A concept of Auto-Train Corporation founder Eugene K. Garfield, a former employee of the US Department of Transportation, the novel approach allowed families to relax en route and save the expense and unfamiliarity of a rental car on arrival.
The Auto-Train consists included passenger cars, autoracks, and a caboose. Although the company had its own locomotives and rolling stock, Auto-Train Corporation trains initially operated on Seaboard Coast Line (SCL) and Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac (RF&P) tracks.
Auto-Train Corporation's new service began operations on December 6, 1971 between Lorton, Virginia and Sanford, Florida. The service was a big hit with travelers. Before long, the ambitious entrepreneurs of Auto-Train were looking to expand into other markets, and even established a short-lived service between Louisville, Kentucky and Sanford, Florida.
Lack of success from the Louisville expansion, high crew costs and several spectacular accidents put Garfield's company into bankruptcy. Auto-Train Corporation was forced to end its services in late April, 1981.
Operating for almost 10 years, Auto-Train had developed a popular following, particularly among older travelers as it ferried passengers and their cars between Virginia and Florida. No one else offered a service quite like that of Auto-Train Corporation until after a gap of almost two years, service was revived by Amtrak .
Today, Amtrak's Auto Train, carries about 200,000 passengers and generates around $50 million in revenue annually. It is considered Amtrak's best-paying train, being the top of a handful of Amtrak trains that make a profit.
